[thstone]

Usually it takes a long time for the boot to deteriorate to the point where it separates. During this time, dirt and water have been able to get inside the boot and into the grease in the CV joint. This is why most shops and the dealer (for sure) will want to remove the CV joint, clean thoroughly, inspect for wear (replace if necessary), re-grease, and re-install with a new boot.

You can do the quick DIY fix and just replace the boot but the dirt, sand, and water that is in the grease won't help the longevity of the CV joint. But if you don't have the money and need to put this repair off into the future, you can take this route and it will probably be ok for awhile.

Now, if I can rant for a second - why the heck are we relying on a rubber boot that everyone knows will deteriorate and cause the need for an expensive repair? And if we know this, why isn't replacing the boots part of the standard maintenance? I always feel that if these darn boots are so critical to preventing an expensive repair that you'd think that someone would make them out of more permanent lasting material or come up with a better enclosure! Rant complete. Thank you.